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It’s Christmas in September! Federal Housing Administration Gifts Prior Offending Homeowners a Shortened Wait to Purchase Another Home

Thu Sep 12, 2013 by on Florida Law News

The following article has been written in the South Florida Law Blog by Roy Oppenheim, Oppenheim Law.

It’s Christmas in September! FHA Gifts Prior Offending Homeowners a Shortened Wait to Purchase Another Home

It’s Christmas in September! FHA Gifts Prior Offending Homeowners a Shortened Wait to Purchase Another Home

The Federal Housing Administration (FHA) recently enacted a rule change allowing borrowers who have fallen into foreclosure, bankruptcy, or a short sale to become eligible for a brand new mortgage backed by the FHA in as little as one year from the date of their previous foreclosure auction, the date of closing on a short sale, or the discharge date on a Chapter 7 bankruptcy.  Considering the previous waiting period for a government back mortgage was 3 years, the new rule, shortening the wait to 1 year, is a shiny new present to buyers who had all but accepted the reality of becoming renters for the foreseeable future.  The new rule is in effect till September 30th, 2016.

Requirements

In order to qualify for the reduced waiting period a buy must provide proof of suffering an economic event that caused them to fall into financial instability.  Examples of such an economic event include:

  • a loss of job;

  • a 20% or greater reduction in income for 6 or more month;

  • a death of a wage earner; or

  • a serious medical issue

Furthermore, buyers must also provide documentation of a clean financial record for the past 12 months and show their ability to make the payments on their newly proposed mortgage.  The buyer is also required to complete a course on housing counseling.

Banks Have Option

It is important to note that banks maintain the discretion of whether to offer loans to previously delinquent homeowners under the new FHA 1-year rule.  However, it is believed that most banks will adapt and change their practices to comply with FHA’s rules.

FHA’s new 1-year rule is an exciting and favorable option for buyers, while both Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac still keep a 7-year waiting period on foreclosures, 2 to 7-year waiting period on short sales, and a 4-year waiting period on bankruptcies.

Real Estate and Foreclosure Defense Attorney, Roy Oppenheim

Real Estate and Foreclosure Defense Attorney, Roy Oppenheim

Real estate attorney and foreclosure defense attorney, Roy Oppenheim left Wall Street for Main Street, founding Oppenheim Law along with his wife Ellen in 1989 in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, and is vice president of Weston Title and creator of the South Florida Law Blog, named the best business and technology blog by the South Florida Sun-Sentinel. Follow Roy on Twitter at @OpLaw or like Oppenheim Law on Facebook.

Tags: fha, foreclosure, homeowners, Real Estate, S Christmas, Waiting Period